Speakers for the 14th annual Ag Outlook Seminar and Appreciation Lunch have been announced by Wayne Area Economic Development Ag Task Force.
The seminar and lunch will take place Friday, Dec. 2 at the Wayne Fire Hall, beginning at 9 am.
Brent Niese, with Summit Carbon Solutions, will open the Outlook seminar. Summit Carbon Solutions will drive job growth across the Midwest, reduce emissions, and provide a substantial boost to the ethanol and agricultural industries that are so critical to the U.S. economy. In early 2021, the company announced a partnership with dozens of ethanol plants across the Midwest. Utilizing proven technology, Summit Carbon Solutions will capture carbon dioxide before it is emitted into the atmosphere and channel it to North Dakota where it will be permanently and safely stored deep underground.
A session on Business Minded Marketing will be presented by Bobby Reifenrath, Pearson Wientjes, and Andrew Fink of Hurley & Associates. Hurley and Associates is an Ag marketing company that has been around since the 1980s. The company focuses on working alongside farmers and ranchers to execute a marketing plan that is driven by the business needs of each operation. They have been working throughout Nebraska since the 1990s and opened up an office in Wayne this past summer. Hurley and Associates has a history of creating long term relationships with those they serve by focusing on each individual business, educating on the right tools for the job, creating clarity across the team on the farm, and having a positive impact on those they interact with.
The third session will feature John Hay, an Extension Educator with UNL based in the Biological Engineering Department. Hay focuses on energy issues and teaches extensively about renewable energy and biofuels. He has a BS in Agronomy from UNL and an MS in Agronomy from Texas A&M and will provide an overview of Agriculture and Voluntary Carbon Markets.
The final session will be presented by Curtis Riganti, a climatologist at the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a US Drought Monitor author. He also does research in trends in drought metrics as part of NDMC's Drought Risk Atlas. Riganti will provide information on the United States Drought Monitor, CMOR drought impact reporting, the current state of drought in northeast Nebraska and the surrounding region, outlooks from the NWS Climate Prediction Center, and mitigation tools from NDMC.
The Seminar will conclude with lunch catered by Vel’s Bakery. During lunch, Doug Temme, with Temme Agribusiness, will share the story of his recent International Trade trip to Colombia.
The Wayne Area Economic Development Ag Task Force is committed to providing this annual educational opportunity to local producers to assist them with their operations and show appreciation for their contributions to the local economy.
Complimentary tickets are available from the following sponsoring businesses to date:
Cruise and Associates
Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust
F&M Bank
Grossenburg Implement
Helena Agri Enterprises
Hurley & Associates
Midwest Land Company
Nebraska Extension - Wayne County
Northeast Nebraska Insurance Agency
Rath, Walling & Associates
State National Insurance Company
State Nebraska Bank & Trust
The Seed Source
UNL Haskell Ag Lab
Wayne County Bank
Wayne State College
Zach Heating & Cooling
A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the event.
